### Episode 7
Arion was shocked — it all happened so suddenly.
Kairus didn’t seem too bothered. He tore off the snake’s head with his bare hands as if it were nothing.
But soon, the skin around the bite on his leg started turning black. It was clear that the snake was venomous.
The poison was strong. Kairus could no longer pretend to be fine — the venom spread up his leg, paralyzing him little by little.
Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
“Your Majesty!”
Arion hurried to his side in alarm.
Kairus tried to say he was fine, but Arion moved faster. She quickly rolled up his trousers and placed her hand over the bite mark.
His thigh was thicker than a woman’s waist — the snakebite looked small compared to it, but it was by no means a small wound.
Arion immediately cast a healing spell.
Fortunately, the snake wasn’t cursed. The blackened skin faded, and the wound healed cleanly.
Watching his own leg heal before his eyes, Kairus couldn’t hide his amazement.
“So this is what it means to be a Saintess blessed for the first time in five hundred years.”
Once she confirmed that the poison was gone, Arion finally noticed the sight before her — his muscular thigh.
She had healed many knights before, but none had legs like his.
As soon as that thought crossed her mind, she felt embarrassed and quickly pulled her hand away.
“You’re really that quick to pull back?” Kairus teased with a laugh.
Although the healing was complete, poison always left the body weak for a while. And since it had begun to rain, they decided to return to the villa to rest.
For Arion, it was her first time feeling rain on her skin and smelling the damp scent of grass. She actually found it pleasant.
But the rain quickly grew heavier.
Before she got completely soaked, Kairus removed his coat and held it over her head to block the rain.
This left his chest and abs completely exposed, but he didn’t seem to care in the least.
Soon, the attendants arrived with umbrellas.
They had been waiting nearby since Kairus wanted some private time with Arion, and rushed over the moment the rain started.
The servants were shocked to see their emperor shirtless and dripping wet. They quickly covered him and began wiping him down.
It took quite some time — there was a lot of him to dry.
The maids all turned their heads away, afraid to look directly at the emperor’s bare body.
“I said I’m fine,” Kairus said casually, not minding the awkward atmosphere at all.
When they reached the villa, Grand Duke Ian was waiting.
“Your Majesty, I apologize for interrupting your honeymoon, but someone has been desperately seeking your audience. I had no choice but to bring him here.”
“I see. The Empress will join us,” Kairus replied indifferently and followed Ian to meet the visitor.
Arion grew curious.
Who could it be? What matter was so important that they would come even during the honeymoon? Something political, perhaps?
Even if it wasn’t an official meeting, it would be her first time greeting a visitor as empress. Half nervous, half excited, she followed him in.
Inside stood the Captain of the Holy Knights.
“Your Majesties, I am Allen Soma, former Captain of the Holy Knights of the Grand Temple.”
He knelt on one knee and bowed respectfully to the emperor and empress.
“Ah, so you’re Allen Soma. You’re the one known for slaying demons and monsters, aren’t you? Your service has always been greatly appreciated,” Kairus said with an easy smile.
Arion was surprised by his sudden appearance, but Kairus welcomed him calmly.
Allen bowed again.
Even though he was kneeling, his presence was still powerful — almost matching that of the emperor himself.
Of course, back at the Grand Temple, everyone said there was no one stronger than the Captain of the Holy Knights. Arion herself had believed that before meeting Kairus.
“So, you’re no longer a knight of the temple,” Kairus said. “Then tell me, why were you so eager to see me?”
He sounded casual, but Arion, standing beside him, could sense the faint tension in his voice.
“I am no longer the Captain,” Allen said. “As of today, I’ve resigned. I wish to serve as Her Majesty the Empress’s personal knight.”
What?
Arion’s eyes widened. She could hardly believe her ears.
No — it had to be a trick. She immediately thought that the High Priest must have sent him with some hidden agenda.
Allen was known for his honesty; he’d never told even a small lie. But if the High Priest ordered it, he could be acting under someone else’s will.
“I see,” Kairus said slowly. “It seems the Empress earned the loyalty of her subordinates at the temple. A subordinate’s devotion to their superior is admirable. But strictly speaking, wasn’t the High Priest your superior, not the Saintess?”
His tone was polite, but his eyes were sharp.
“Yes, Your Majesty, that’s true,” Allen admitted. “However, in my judgment — and this is purely personal — the Empress needs my protection more than the High Priest does.”
Even as he knelt, his answer was confident, and his aura didn’t falter under the emperor’s presence.
“You’re famous for slaying monsters and beasts,” Kairus continued. “Your skill is well known. But even so, our imperial knights are trained on battlefields and are more than capable.”
“I understand that, Your Majesty,” Allen said calmly. “However, my skills could be of special use to Her Majesty. I can sense and combat cursed creatures — something ordinary knights can’t do.”
Kairus’s expression grew more serious.
He’d been hearing reports lately — cursed beasts and strange magical incidents were increasing across the land. The imperial army was strong in combat, but lacked divine power.
A knight with both strength and holy power was rare — and here was the best of the best, volunteering himself.
If this was truly Allen’s own decision, Kairus had no reason to refuse.
He thought for a moment, then said,
“What do you think, Empress? He says he wishes to serve directly under you. The decision is yours.”
Arion nodded slowly.
“Yes… since he came all the way here, I’ll accept his request.”
She didn’t have much choice. Rejecting him now would be strange — and if he was lying, she could always find out later.
She and Allen had known each other for ten years.
If his intentions were genuine, good. If not — she could turn that to her advantage.
Kairus smiled faintly. “You know what happens if you ever betray us, don’t you?”
It sounded casual, but everyone in the room knew it was a threat.
Allen, still kneeling politely, replied evenly,
“The same goes for you, Your Majesty.”
Everyone froze.
Did he just talk back to the Emperor?
The attendants and guards exchanged uneasy looks.
But Kairus simply chuckled. “Excellent. You’ll make a fine knight for the Empress.”
His reaction surprised everyone — but it showed that Kairus respected the man’s courage.
“Then your service begins now,” he said.
—
